Re -1000 search of EASA library shows no changes so approval of ETOPs, All weather and similiar remain pending. Test flying very sparse over last eight weeks so I think it is resonable to assume some issues may have emerged and now being addressed. MSN88, QR first, has three test flights but nothing recently. Looking at test flying noticeably high these days with the A330neo however just at start of her programme although A350 MSN1 getting in quite a few hours these days ....long detail today in Shannon.

China over the years has asked Airbus to intervene with the European Aviation Safety Agency and the European Commission to help expedite the talks over the aviation safety agreement, say two people familiar with the requests. As the negotiations dragged on, so did the pace of certification.The talks between China and the European Commission were successfully completed in December, according to a European Commission spokesman.The agreement is expected to be signed in June, which the Commission says it expects will help advance certification for "European aviation products" in China.

Unquote:

Cheers

Peter

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." (Albert Einstein, 1879 - 1955)

As per Airbus, MSN 132 QR #21 was contractually delivered on December 29, 2017.

and msn60 did not get delivered.

Right. MSN60 together with the delivered (Dec 2016) but stored MSN52 and 55 all for Sichuan Airlines are awaiting Mainland Chinese certification. The same is the case for 2 for Bejing Capital Airlines (MSN 98 and 112) and the first for Air China (MSN167).

That certification problem cost Airbus 4 deliveries in 2017. Four easy deliveries for 2018 from a production perspective.

If I may mention the backlog of 7 built and parked QR A350-900 with a lower MSN than long delivered ones, we are already at 11. If only it wasn't QR... My point here is that 2018 could see 100+11 deliveries. Just my guess of course. What do you guys think. Time for delivery projections?

If I may mention the backlog of 7 built and parked QR A350-900 with a lower MSN than long delivered ones, we are already at 11. If only it wasn't QR... My point here is that 2018 could see 100+11 deliveries. Just my guess of course. What do you guys think. Time for delivery projections?

Not sure about the Chinese airlines, but I would expect QR to postpone other 2018 deliveries to 2019 for one reason or another. How things will add up seems impossible to guess at this point...

If I may mention the backlog of 7 built and parked QR A350-900 with a lower MSN than long delivered ones, we are already at 11. If only it wasn't QR... My point here is that 2018 could see 100+11 deliveries. Just my guess of course. What do you guys think. Time for delivery projections?

Not sure about the Chinese airlines, but I would expect QR to postpone other 2018 deliveries to 2019 for one reason or another. How things will add up seems impossible to guess at this point...

Why does airbus keep building them, they could bring froward other customers who do want to take delivery or make slots aviable for new orders.

If I may mention the backlog of 7 built and parked QR A350-900 with a lower MSN than long delivered ones, we are already at 11. If only it wasn't QR... My point here is that 2018 could see 100+11 deliveries. Just my guess of course. What do you guys think. Time for delivery projections?

Not sure about the Chinese airlines, but I would expect QR to postpone other 2018 deliveries to 2019 for one reason or another. How things will add up seems impossible to guess at this point...

Why does airbus keep building them, they could bring froward other customers who do want to take delivery or make slots aviable for new orders.

There is a long lead time in production and last minute delays cannot be avoided because the production has already been scheduled and work is already done for that particular customer.

When there are official cancellations before the aircraft goes into production, Airbus usually cancels that MSN allocated to the customer who cancelled and production of that frame does not commence.

Not sure about the Chinese airlines, but I would expect QR to postpone other 2018 deliveries to 2019 for one reason or another. How things will add up seems impossible to guess at this point...

Why does airbus keep building them, they could bring froward other customers who do want to take delivery or make slots aviable for new orders.

Not sure it would be a good idea for Airbus to just delay the QR planes.What if QR then says "we are ready to take delivery of our frame, where is the plane ?".

I do not know much about airplane sale contracts, but I guess there must be some part of the final price that gets paid at some point of the construction, and Airbus has to meet their own contractual obligations, or they would face penalties / cancellations.